Even after a season in which Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs suffered a monumental slide from the previous year's standings—a full nine-game difference between their 15-win total in 2024 to a 6-11 record in 2025—belief in the team still isn't hard to find.
Perhaps that sort of faith is well-earned after playing in five of six Super Bowls and serving as the league's reigning dynasty. It's also likely the result of employing the NFL's most important player in quarterback Patrick Mahomes or having a legend for a head coach in Andy Reid. Either way, this is a pivotal year for the Chiefs to reward that sustained trust or watch it fade with another subpar effort in 2026.
The latest example of the Chiefs' goodwill can be found in ESPN's far-too-early NFL power rankings for the 2026 season, where Kansas City sits at No. 12 overall.
ESPN's power rankings still believe in the Chiefs, but a pivotal offseason will determine whether that faith holds.
For some perspective on just how positive that positioning is, there were 14 teams that punched a postseason ticket overall. The Chiefs were in the 12th spot in their own conference in this year's playoff picture, as far from the postseason field as they've been since picking first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. Somehow, despite winning six games, they are three spots higher than their division rivals, the L.A. Chargers, who finished with nearly twice as many victories.
Yes, power rankings in this instance are all about looking forward, but the Chiefs feel even shakier in that regard. Mahomes is recovering from a serious knee injury and might not even be available to start the new year. Travis Kelce might retire and will be 37 years old even if he returns. Chris Jones is getting older as well, and there's little pass rush juice beyond him. Offseason losses could hurt the defense considerably with Bryan Cook and Leo Chenal and Jaylen Watson all headed toward free agency.
It's possible general manager Brett Veach scores a touchdown with most of his decisions this offseason. Teams like the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots just proved that shrewd moves in a single spring can radically propel a team forward, especially in a conference as upside-down as the AFC. But it's going to be a franchise-defining offseason for all parties involved. Belief will only last so long.